Sales Agent Type 1: Selling agents

Sales agents who actually deliver an order to you for fulfillment. This level of closure demands a higher (normal) level of commission.

Sales Agent Type 2: Introducer agents

The other sales agent type is the ‘introducer’ agent. At their most basic, introducer agents will merely identify a potential requirement, and then notify you. You then need to motivate your in-house sales resource to make introductions and go through the entire sales process all the way to closure. At the more typical level, the introducer agent will identify the opportunity, explain the product and its broad features and benefits to the customer, gain an indication of definite interest, and then effect a personalised introduction between the customer and your in-house sales resource. In either guise this sales agent type, with a lower level of selling involvement, normally commands a lesser commission.

In some situations, you can consider offering 2 separate opportunities to agents: to become either a ‘selling’ agent or an ‘introducer’ agent. (This would usually necessitate two different commission rates.)

Under what circumstances to consider offering an introducer opportunity?:

Working with sales agents can be an ideal way to grow a business or launch a new product with minimal costs. Often sales agents are the most cost-effective, quickest and lowest risk route to market. They may also simply be the best strategy when trying to open up new markets, where pre-existing customer relationships are key.

At AgentBase we have extensive experience of sales agent planning, recruitment and management. Call our friendly staff for a chat about your situation and how we can help you to get the most of out of using sales agents.